Chaos erupted on I-75 South in Loudon County, Tennessee, yesterday afternoon as two separate traffic incidents forced the thoroughfare’s closure, disrupting countless journeys and mobilizing first responders from various agencies. According to a report by the Loudon County Sheriff s Office, released shortly after 6:45 p.m., the more severe accident occurred at the Tennessee River Bridge near mile marker 74, where a vehicle reportedly plunged into the river following a multi-vehicle crash. Injuries were reported, though specifics on the number of injured individuals were not immediately provided, as noted in a statement obtained byWATE.
Consequently, southbound traffic was detoured at exit 76 onto Sugarlimb Road as authorities set up a turn-around for vehicles caught between the crash site and the detour point. An unrelated crash at mile marker 71 contributed to the gridlock, hampering northbound traffic with the additional complication of an injury, as per a report byWBIR. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Highway Patrol had its hands full investigating not just the river plunge incident but also a separate collision just three miles to the south.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) stated that it was necessary to close the interstate to allow a medical helicopter to land at the site of the first crash, which occurred around 5 p.m. This initial incident, involving several vehicles, was followed by a second crash approximately 13 minutes later, further congesting the interstate and heightening the urgency of the situation, as reported byWVLT.
A robust response by first responders, including Priority Ambulance Service, Loudon County Fire/Rescue, Loudon Fire Department, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, among others, showcased the coordination required to manage an emergency of this scale. “This closure is expected to last several hours,” officials from LCSO warned, as mentioned byWVLT, urging drivers to choose alternate routes while the emergency operations unfolded along the river s edge and the interstate.
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